The Chesterton High School Trojan Guard marching band traveled to Concord
High School in Elkhart, Ind., this past Saturday to participate with 19
other Northern Indiana bands in the Indiana State School Music Association’s
(ISSMA) District level contest. The band’s performance earned them a “Gold”
superior level rating, an achievement that qualified the group for the ISSMA
Regional level of competition later this month.

This District event marks the first level of statewide competition toward
the ultimate goal of competing in the annual ISSMA State Marching Band
Championship.

Bands are adjudicated by a panel of six judges in the areas of Individual
Music Performance, Ensemble Music Performance, Music Effect, Individual
Visual Performance, Ensemble Visual Performance and Overall Visual Effect.
Bands across the state that receive a composite score high enough to qualify
for a first division (superior) rating, will move on to either the Northern
Indiana or Southern Indiana regional competitions to be held the weekend of
October 13. At the Northern and Southern regional competitions, the 10 bands
with the highest point totals will advance to the Semi-State competition
where they will go head-to-head with all of the bands in their respective
class for a chance to secure a position as a state finalist band.

A total of 40 bands (10 from each class A-D) will then compete at the
Indiana State Marching Band Championship held at Lucus Oil Stadium in
Indianapolis on Saturday, November 3.

The Trojan Guard’s 2012 field show is entitled, “Out of the Darkness.” This
year’s production is comprised of three sections that gradually take the
audience from all things ‘black’, into the joyous transformation of the
‘light’. The music includes: Mvmt. I Abyss, Mvmt. II Into the Light, Mvmt.
III Salvation!

There are 82 students in the Trojan Guard this year, 42 woodwinds and brass
players, 15 percussionists, 24 Color Guard members, and one Drum Major.

The next performance by the Trojan Guard will be this Saturday, October 6,
at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Illinois. Performance time
is 4:36 p.m. The Trojan Guard may be seen locally at Chesterton High School
on Friday, October 12. The band will be performing at both pre-game and
half-time when the Trojans take on the Pirates of Merrillville.

The Trojan Guard is under the direction of Michael Scheiber with assistance
by Vincent Arizzi. Additional staff includes Lisa Scheiber, color guard
director and Jeff Wroblewski, drill design.

For additional information regarding the Trojan Guard or any band activity,
please contact the CHS Music Department at 983-3730.